A new poll conducted by Yonder on behalf of the Women Against State Pension Inequality Campaign (WASPI) indicates that three-quarters of adults across Great Britain believe the UK Government should U-turn on its decision not to compensate millions of women born in the 1950s affected by increases to their State Pension age.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s (PHSO) final report, published on March 21, 2024 stated that “Parliament must urgently identify a mechanism for providing that appropriate remedy” and recommended compensation equivalent to level four on its banding scale, which is worth between £1,000 and £2,950. However, last month, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said there would be “no scheme of financial compensation” for those affected by changes to the official age of retirement.
In the statement to MPs on December 17, Ms Kendall admitted there was maladministration by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and apologised to all women impacted by changes to their retirement age on behalf of the UK Government.
A new poll released by the WASPi campaign suggests that public anger over the decision is continuing to cause headaches for ministers. Three-quarters (64%) of voters say ministers should follow the PHSO’s recommendations and deliver “fair compensation” to WASPI women.
The findings come despite ministers insisting that compensating WASPI women would be an unfair burden on the taxpayer.
Ms Kendall explained that following the PHSO’s compensation recommendation would cost taxpayers between £3.5 billion and £10.5 billion.
She told MPs: “Given the great majority of women knew that the State Pension Age was increasing, the Government does not believe paying a flat rate to all women – at a cost of up to £10.5 billion – would be a fair or proportionate use of taxpayers’ money.”
WASPI campaigns on behalf of 3.6 million women who were not properly informed of increases to their State Pension age, preventing them from planning for their retirement and leaving them little or no time to make alternative arrangements.
Meanwhile, 8-in-10 (78%) say Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has broken his word after previously signing a pledge which read “I support fair and fast compensation for 1950s women.”
Over three-quarters (76%) of the public now say all MPs should be given a vote in Parliament on the issue, taking the decision on compensation directly out of the hands of ministers and campaigners agree with this opinion.
At least 35 Labour MPs have publicly blasted the decision not to award compensation, according to the Labour List, with dozens more understood to be lobbying ministers behind the scenes.
With the Liberal Democrats set to force an opposition vote within weeks, Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, MP for Alloa and Grangemouth Brian Leishman, said: “I will be doing the right thing and voting for WASPI women to receive the justice they are due.
“Labour is the party of social justice and equality. After a decade of support from across the Labour movement, the WASPI women are not a political football – they are a generation of women who deserve the justice we have promised them.”
He added: “When that opposition vote comes, I will be doing the right thing and voting for WASPI women to receive the justice they are due and deserve.”
Angela Madden, Chair of the WASPI Campaign, said: “For years we campaigned with prominent Cabinet members who have now reneged on their promises and decided not to deliver justice, despite the clear findings of the Ombudsman’s report and the unwavering public support.
“Not only does this question their integrity but throws public trust in our institutions into disarray. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is there to hold the Government to account. Labour’s decision to ignore it rides roughshod over our constitutional checks and balances.
“Without a government- led proposal to compensate WASPI women, MPs need to step up and do all that’s in their power to secure proper compensation. WASPI women have rallied across the country in response to Labour’s disgraceful decision with the number of women joining our campaign growing significantly last month. On behalf of the 3.6 million women affected, we will continue to fight using all avenues available to achieve justice.”
The poll of 2,079 British adults was carried out by Yonder between January 3-5, 2025.
Conservative MP Sir John Hayes has secured parliamentary time for a debate on State Pension age compensation which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, January 15 at 2.30pm in Westminster Hall.
You can watch the debate on Parliament TV here.